Dhaka, June 20 -- US President Donald Trump's recent assertions about mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan have reignited long-standing apprehensions surrounding external involvement in the Kashmir dispute. His remarks, including those referenced during a US court hearing in May 2025-where US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified that the Trump administration's trade policies helped avert a potential nuclear confrontation in South Asia-were met with widespread criticism from strategic experts and policymakers alike. India has remained steadfast in its position: the issue of Jammu and Kashmir is strictly bilateral and not subject to international mediation.

Despite Trump's controversial rhetoric, the India-US relationshi...